1874 . the easiest and most popular climbing routes are categorized as class 1 to 2 or a + in mountain ##eering par ##lance . mount el ##bert is therefore often referred to as the " gentle giant " that tops all others in the rocky mountains . = = geography = = mount el ##bert is visible to the southwest of lead ##ville , often snow @ - @ capped even in the summer . many other fourteen ##ers surround el ##bert in all directions , and it is very close to central colorado ' s collegiate peaks . the neighboring mount massive , to the north , is the second @ - @ highest peak in the rocky mountains and the third @ - @ highest
1874. the easiest and most popular climbing routes are categorized as class 1 to 2 or a + in mountaineering parlance. mount elbert is therefore often referred to as the " gentle giant " that tops all others in the rocky mountains. = = geography = = mount elbert is visible to the southwest of leadville, often snow @ - @ capped even in the summer. many other fourteeners surround elbert in all directions, and it is very close to central colorado's collegiate peaks. the neighboring mount massive, to the north, is the second @ - @ highest peak in the rocky mountains and the third @ - @ highest